English 101-91 Hippotherapy: Not Just Horseplay

"Cowboy mount, puller of plows, steed of Paul Revere, the horse has always been a contribution to human life, this time as a healing partner." Hippotherapy can be defined as a form of therapy that uses horses to develop the patients' physical being, as well as their emotional being. Therapists use the horses' rhythmic movements to improve muscle tone, balance, posture, coordination, strength, flexibility, and cognitive skills. The equines for hippotherapy are chosen carefully for …

…contraindications each new program must review before allowing any disabled person to ride. <Tab/>John Wayne once said, "Time in the saddle is never wasted." Hippotherapy is one of the only therapies that improve a person's physical being as well as their spirit. Hippotherapy builds independence for individuals with disabilities. If someone invented a pill that achieved the benefits of hippotherapy, you can be sure it would be prescribed and reimbursed.